Post-office letter-box case and memorandum



(No Model.)

alums. POST OI'FIGE LETTER BOX CASE AND MEMORANDUM.

Patented Nov. 3, 1896.

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DAVID J. AYRES, OF KEOKUK, IOVA.

POST-OFFICE LETTER-BOX CASE AND MEMORANDUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,862, dated November3, 1896.

Application filed January 2, 1895. Serial No. 533,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID J. AYRES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Post-Office Letter-Box Casesand Memorandums, which is made and used substantially as set forthhereinafter, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure1 is a front elevation of part of the letter-box case and labelmemorandums therein. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the memorandum envelop orlabel as an envelop. Fig. 4 illustrates the same with letters strappedto it. Fig. 5 illustrates the same as a book.

This invention consists in providing postoffice delivery-cases withindicators arranged to remain permanently the outfit or property ofindividual boxes or cells, and with the letters belonging therein whenthere are any, to remain in the cells when there are no letters, and togo with the letters when taken out in hand for examination, so as toavoid chance of there being any vacant cells except that from whichletters are taken, into which they can be put back by mistake, so as tocause subsequent errors, and in improved indicators adapted for thispurpose, and various details therein.

The letter-cases K are made with rectangular divisions forming boxes orcells T, suited to hold letters on their side edges or fiat or part eachway, and convenient for removal for examination and return. These cellsare lettered in series laterally and vertically for the initials ofgiven and surnames to which the individual cells are devoted, or withthe titles of classes of letters or packages, or in any suitable mannerdesired.

Each box or cell T is provided with an indicator I of the form setforth, or of any suitable form, as a card or paper or an envelop, whichI used to call dummies, which are arranged to be handled with theletters when taken out for examination, and to remain permanently withthe cells as their outfit or property, whether they contain letters ornot, to avoid a chance of any cells being vacant except the one fromwhich letters are taken, into which they can be put back by mistake withserious results. This indicator bears on its front face M the initialletters or titles of the letters or packages its cell is devoted to, soas to act as alabel for such cell. Its other face has a prepared surfaceN, adapted to the writing and erasure of names or memorandums as toletters to be looked out for for forwarding or other purpose; and it hasa pocket P between the two face surfaces for holding request slips orcards relating to such letters. It may be made in the form of either anenvelop open at the top to receive the request-papers and form thepockets, or as a book, Fig. 5, with the pocket in oneback or betweenthem, and with memorandumleaves between the back parts. Theseindicators, whichever way they are made, have notches R on their sideedges adapted to receive elastic straps S, bandlike, to holc letters.

Various modifications may be made.

I claim 1. A post-office case having cells, for letters or packages,each provided with an indicator adapted to be handled with its lettersand bearing indicia of the names or classes of letters the cell isdevoted to, on one face, and on another face a surface prepared forwritin g and erasing memorandums, and intermediately a pocket for cardsor slips, and having notches on its edges to receive elastic straps forletters, substantially as set forth.

2. A post-office case having cells for letters or packages each providedwith an indicator adapted to be handled with its letters and to remainpermanently therewith in the absence of letters to avoid mistakes.

3. A post-office case having cells for letters or packages, each cellprovided with an indicator adapted to be handled with its letters andbearing indicia of the names or classes of letters to which the cell isdevoted on one face, and a surface on the other face adapted for thewriting and erasure of memorandums, and intermediately a pocket toretain memorandum cards or slips.

4:. A post-office ease having cells for letters or packages each cellprovided with an indicator adapted to be handled with its letters and toremain permanently with it, and bearing initial letters 01' [mlz'oz'a ofthe names or classes of letters to \Vhi ch the cell is devoted.

5. A post-office case having cells for letters or packages each cellprovided with an indicator adapted to be handled with its letters and toremain permanently with it and hearing on one face a label or index ofthe names or class of letters to which the cell is devoted, and onanother face a prepared surface adapted for the writing" and erasure ofnames. IO

DAVID J. AYRES. Witnesses:

FRANK A. FRENCH, JOSEPH J. AYRES.

